Pool Ball Miracles: Craig Petty
Pool Ball Miracle (DVD and Props) by Craig Petty and Wizard FX Productions - DVD
Price: $45.00
Price at Penguin: $33.75
What you get:
1. DVD that includes performances of six different effects and explanations of eight effects.
2. E-book containing over twenty more effects and ideas(not yet reviewed)
3. 4 mini-pool balls (good size for palming) that will allow you to perform all the effects on the DVD.
4. Gimmick 1: a gimmick that will allow you to do a “Ball through Table” routine.
5. Gaffed card: a gaffed card that will allow you to perform a pool ball “through the deck” routine.
What you may want to get(ie. Stuff that should have been included but wasn’t)
1. Blank backed card(red 3)
2. Blank faced card
3. Card wallet Card Wallet
Overview: This could have been titled “Craig Petty’s Pool Ball Project,” as this is not just one effect but a series of effects that can be performed with mini-sized pool balls. It is definitely one of the most unique magic projects I have received in a good long while and overall I am quite excited about it. At this point I have only had “Pool Ball Miracles” for little over a month and have only worked my way through the material on the DVD. I’ll likely just add an updated review of the e-book at a later date when I have had a chance to evaluate that stuff.
Effects:
Essence Transpo: Performance-yes/Explanation-yes
Description: Magician produces a queue ball, places it in a handkerchief and asks a spectator to hold on to it. He then has a card selected and places it in the spectators other hand. After a magical gesture the card is turned over revealing the card is blank and the hank is opened revealing the queue ball has “stolen” the number and color of the card.
Thoughts: The biggest purpose of this trick is that it teaches Petty’s basic pool ball switch using a handkerchief. It is a good trick to start out the DVD as it teaches a move that you will use to great effect in many of the other routines. That said it is not one of the stronger effects taught. It would be a good one to learn and perform a bit for newer magicians who are not quite used to sleight of hand work. My guess is that most intermediate and advanced magicians will skip this trick and move on to higher impact effects taught elsewhere on the DVD. One other disadvantage is that it requires a blank face card which is not included in the package. Not a big disadvantage but considering the fact that I see this as a “beginners” effect and many beginners don’t have a lot of gaffed cards I think it would have been nice to throw one in.
Pool Ball Transpo: Performance-yes/Explanation-yes
Description: Magician pulls out a queue ball, places it in a handkerchief and hands it to the spectator. He then takes out a numbered pool ball. With the wave of his hand the two balls change locations (magician has the queue ball and the spectator has the numbered ball.)
Thoughts: This is one of my two favorite routines in the book. Petty teaches an “in the hands” switch that I think is just beautiful. This is an effect that beginners should only attempt after they have first mastered essence transpo as it will use the handkerchief switch and the in-hands switches. Toppiters will love this effect but even if you don’t have a toppit the misdirection built into this effect is so strong that you won’t have a difficult time cleaning yourself up.
Ball Thru Table: Performance-yes/Explanation-yes
Description: Magician takes out a pool ball, places it on the table under a handkerchief, slams his hand down on the pool ball and it travels through the table.
Thoughts: This is another great effect but selling this one will require lots of practice. It uses a common gimmick (that will be easily replaceable) but I am glad they included as I do not usually use these gimmicks in my magic. Craig has some really great ideas on how to sell this but it will still require lots of work. The good news is that once mastered, as he mentions in the DVD, it will routine itself quite nicely into other pool ball effects you perform. You could probably take about any one of the effects performed and add a little pool ball through table segue to it.
Reality: Performance-yes/Explanation-yes
Description: The magician shows a blank card or business card with little pool ball stickers placed on it of many different numbers and colors of balls. He places that card on the table and pulls out business cards. On the back of each business card is a single ball of the various numbers and colors. He has the spectator select a random business card. The magician then accurately predicts which card was chosen. He then picks up the card with all stickers on it. He snaps his fingers and out pops a ball from the card. One of the balls has jumped out of the card into reality.
Thoughts: This is not one of the best effects on the DVD but it is close to self working and it would be a fun little way to hand out a business card. Petty teaches how to construct all the gimmicks required for this trick. You will need to get a packet trick wallet, some stickers from your local stationary shop, and a stack of business cards. A blank backed or faced card will also be required. This routine also teaches the first of several “pool ball from card” productions that will be taught on the DVD. This would be another good effect for the beginners, provided they already have the extra items needed to construct the gaffs, but more experienced magicians may actually pass this one up. I say that for the following reasons. While it is a fun way to pass out a business card I think that if you were to perform a pool ball routine you would not want to deaden the impact of the “pool ball from card” production by overdoing it with this effect. So overall if you are a beginner and want to get some experience with a pool ball production or if you only want to use a pool ball trick to pass out a business card then this will be a good effect for you but if that’s not you then you might skip this one in favor of some stronger routines.
Red 3 Corner Pocket: Performance-yes/Explanation-yes
Description: The magician shows a deck of cards and says he will use the 3 of diamonds to find a selection. He then further explains that he won’t use the three but the ink off the three. With a snap the three goes blank and out pops a red three ball out of the card and into the spectators hand. Then a card is selected and placed in the center of the pack. The magician then takes the three balls and smashes it into the deck. He spreads the cards and we find that there is a sticker of a red three on the back of the signed selection. Finally the magician snaps the card and the 3 ball pops back off of the back of the card and into the spectator’s hand. He turns the card over to reveal the sticker is gone and the card is now clean.
Thoughts: I love the in-hands switch from “pool ball transpo” so much that it is probably my favorite routine from the DVD but I must admit that this routine is probably the overall best effect on the DVD. There are two solid pool ball productions, a pool ball vanish, and an interesting way to reveal a signed card, all wrapped up into one routine. The only weakness of the routine is the pool ball vanish but I think that the use of a toppit or applying some principles from the “Ball Thru Table” routine could help strengthen the ball vanish. Even with the standard handling the ball vanish it in the middle of the routine so if it’s not the strongest “magical moment” it is no big deal. Overall a trick that will appeal to the more experienced magicians or one that a beginner might want to hold off on until mastering some of the easier routines in the DVD. One way or the other you will want to learn this routine eventually. Two gaffed cards be required and unfortunately only one been provided.(the sticker of a red three on the back of the card) I wish they had provided stickers as well so you could make a gaff for any deck of cards you own. Oh well, I’m sure I’ll find what I need to make my gaffs eventually. Those minor points aside this is overall a fantastic routine.
Pool Ball Miracle (DVD and Props) by Craig Petty and Wizard FX Productions - DVD
Price: $45.00
Price at Penguin: $33.75
What you get:
1. DVD that includes performances of six different effects and explanations of eight effects.
2. E-book containing over twenty more effects and ideas(not yet reviewed)
3. 4 mini-pool balls (good size for palming) that will allow you to perform all the effects on the DVD.
4. Gimmick 1: a gimmick that will allow you to do a “Ball through Table” routine.
5. Gaffed card: a gaffed card that will allow you to perform a pool ball “through the deck” routine.
What you may want to get(ie. Stuff that should have been included but wasn’t)
1. Blank backed card(red 3)
2. Blank faced card
3. Card wallet Card Wallet
Overview: This could have been titled “Craig Petty’s Pool Ball Project,” as this is not just one effect but a series of effects that can be performed with mini-sized pool balls. It is definitely one of the most unique magic projects I have received in a good long while and overall I am quite excited about it. At this point I have only had “Pool Ball Miracles” for little over a month and have only worked my way through the material on the DVD. I’ll likely just add an updated review of the e-book at a later date when I have had a chance to evaluate that stuff.
Effects:
Essence Transpo: Performance-yes/Explanation-yes
Description: Magician produces a queue ball, places it in a handkerchief and asks a spectator to hold on to it. He then has a card selected and places it in the spectators other hand. After a magical gesture the card is turned over revealing the card is blank and the hank is opened revealing the queue ball has “stolen” the number and color of the card.
Thoughts: The biggest purpose of this trick is that it teaches Petty’s basic pool ball switch using a handkerchief. It is a good trick to start out the DVD as it teaches a move that you will use to great effect in many of the other routines. That said it is not one of the stronger effects taught. It would be a good one to learn and perform a bit for newer magicians who are not quite used to sleight of hand work. My guess is that most intermediate and advanced magicians will skip this trick and move on to higher impact effects taught elsewhere on the DVD. One other disadvantage is that it requires a blank face card which is not included in the package. Not a big disadvantage but considering the fact that I see this as a “beginners” effect and many beginners don’t have a lot of gaffed cards I think it would have been nice to throw one in.
Pool Ball Transpo: Performance-yes/Explanation-yes
Description: Magician pulls out a queue ball, places it in a handkerchief and hands it to the spectator. He then takes out a numbered pool ball. With the wave of his hand the two balls change locations (magician has the queue ball and the spectator has the numbered ball.)
Thoughts: This is one of my two favorite routines in the book. Petty teaches an “in the hands” switch that I think is just beautiful. This is an effect that beginners should only attempt after they have first mastered essence transpo as it will use the handkerchief switch and the in-hands switches. Toppiters will love this effect but even if you don’t have a toppit the misdirection built into this effect is so strong that you won’t have a difficult time cleaning yourself up.
Ball Thru Table: Performance-yes/Explanation-yes
Description: Magician takes out a pool ball, places it on the table under a handkerchief, slams his hand down on the pool ball and it travels through the table.
Thoughts: This is another great effect but selling this one will require lots of practice. It uses a common gimmick (that will be easily replaceable) but I am glad they included as I do not usually use these gimmicks in my magic. Craig has some really great ideas on how to sell this but it will still require lots of work. The good news is that once mastered, as he mentions in the DVD, it will routine itself quite nicely into other pool ball effects you perform. You could probably take about any one of the effects performed and add a little pool ball through table segue to it.
Reality: Performance-yes/Explanation-yes
Description: The magician shows a blank card or business card with little pool ball stickers placed on it of many different numbers and colors of balls. He places that card on the table and pulls out business cards. On the back of each business card is a single ball of the various numbers and colors. He has the spectator select a random business card. The magician then accurately predicts which card was chosen. He then picks up the card with all stickers on it. He snaps his fingers and out pops a ball from the card. One of the balls has jumped out of the card into reality.
Thoughts: This is not one of the best effects on the DVD but it is close to self working and it would be a fun little way to hand out a business card. Petty teaches how to construct all the gimmicks required for this trick. You will need to get a packet trick wallet, some stickers from your local stationary shop, and a stack of business cards. A blank backed or faced card will also be required. This routine also teaches the first of several “pool ball from card” productions that will be taught on the DVD. This would be another good effect for the beginners, provided they already have the extra items needed to construct the gaffs, but more experienced magicians may actually pass this one up. I say that for the following reasons. While it is a fun way to pass out a business card I think that if you were to perform a pool ball routine you would not want to deaden the impact of the “pool ball from card” production by overdoing it with this effect. So overall if you are a beginner and want to get some experience with a pool ball production or if you only want to use a pool ball trick to pass out a business card then this will be a good effect for you but if that’s not you then you might skip this one in favor of some stronger routines.
Red 3 Corner Pocket: Performance-yes/Explanation-yes
Description: The magician shows a deck of cards and says he will use the 3 of diamonds to find a selection. He then further explains that he won’t use the three but the ink off the three. With a snap the three goes blank and out pops a red three ball out of the card and into the spectators hand. Then a card is selected and placed in the center of the pack. The magician then takes the three balls and smashes it into the deck. He spreads the cards and we find that there is a sticker of a red three on the back of the signed selection. Finally the magician snaps the card and the 3 ball pops back off of the back of the card and into the spectator’s hand. He turns the card over to reveal the sticker is gone and the card is now clean.
Thoughts: I love the in-hands switch from “pool ball transpo” so much that it is probably my favorite routine from the DVD but I must admit that this routine is probably the overall best effect on the DVD. There are two solid pool ball productions, a pool ball vanish, and an interesting way to reveal a signed card, all wrapped up into one routine. The only weakness of the routine is the pool ball vanish but I think that the use of a toppit or applying some principles from the “Ball Thru Table” routine could help strengthen the ball vanish. Even with the standard handling the ball vanish it in the middle of the routine so if it’s not the strongest “magical moment” it is no big deal. Overall a trick that will appeal to the more experienced magicians or one that a beginner might want to hold off on until mastering some of the easier routines in the DVD. One way or the other you will want to learn this routine eventually. Two gaffed cards be required and unfortunately only one been provided.(the sticker of a red three on the back of the card) I wish they had provided stickers as well so you could make a gaff for any deck of cards you own. Oh well, I’m sure I’ll find what I need to make my gaffs eventually. Those minor points aside this is overall a fantastic routine.
